Plating apparatus.



.PATENTED PEB'. 26, 1907. T. J. sL-ADE.

PLATING APPARATUS. APPLIGATlONVIILED APR.24. 1906.

Tn: NoRRls Fgrsns co, WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFIE,

THOMAS J. SLADE, OF PAWTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH BROTHERS, OF PROVIDENCE, ARHODE ISLAND, A FIRM.

PLATlNG APPARATUS.

Specification ef Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed April 24,1906. Serial No. 313.406.

1'0 all 'u1/1,0m, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. SLADE, of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plating Appliances, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to appliances used in preparing composite plates used in the manufacture of plated jewelry, a composite plate of this character c-omprising a relatively thick layer of base metal, a thin outer layer of precious metal, as geld, and an intermediate layer of solder. The said layers being assembled are subjected to heat while 'lirmly clamped together, the heat melting` the solder and resulting in the union of the several layers.

I'Ieretofore it has been customary to secure the assembled layers together by means ol' independent clamps, which are movable with the assembled layers, the whole assembly, including the layers and the clamps, being then placed in a plating-furnace which is internally heated by gas-burners. It is desirable to frequently inspect the work and regulate the heat applied to various parts ofthe same, this inspection and regulation involving the removal of the clamped layers from the furnace and their reinsertion. The expenditure of considerable time and labor is required for this operation, as well as for the operation el'- applying and removing the independent clamps. l

My invention has for its object to provide a plating appliance adapted to be operated with the minimum expenditure of time and labor and also adapted to permit inspection of the work without moving the same. The invention consists in the improvments which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiieation, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a plating appliance embodying my invention, showing a laminated plate in position to be treated. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and a plan view of the parts below said line, the piece of work and the clamping-plate or follower shown in Fig. 1 being removed. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

base adapted to bear on a bench or other support and provided with slotted ears 13,

adapted to engage bolts 14, which secure the base to its support. The base is adapted to receive gas or a mixture of gas and air and is provided with a substantially flat top, in which are a plurality of orifices 16, eonsttituing burners and formed to direct upwardly the jets of flame caused by the combustion of the streams of gas and air passing through the said ori'lices. The top of the base is also provided with a plurality of slender upwardlyprojecting studs 17, the upper ends of which are elevated above the top of the base and constitute collectively a skeleton clamp member adapted to support the work to be treated, the upper ends of the studs being flush with each other, so that the base metal layer 18, the solder layer 19, and the precious metal layer 2O when assembled may be supported by the said studs, as indicated in Fig. 3.

I characterize the studs as a skeleton clamp member7 because while they support the work to be treated against the clamping pressure of the complemental clamping means, hereinafter described, they cover or obstruct only very small areas of the baseplate 18 and permit the direct impingement of the gas-jets against the greater part of the under surface of said plate. Each stud is independent of the others so far as its contact with the work is concerned, so that the jets are free to play in all directions between and around the studs.

21 represents a yoke or bridge the end por tions of which are formed as legs bearing on the ears 13 and provided with slotted ears 22, which receive bolts l,23), whereby the bridge is detachably secured to the ears 13. The bridge extends across the base 12 and is sufficiently elevated above the studs 17 to permit the interposition between it and the work supported by said studs of a follower or clamp member 24, formed to cover the upper surface of the work. The bridge is provided with suitable adjustable pressureapplying devices 25, adapted to exert downward pressure upon the clamp member 24. The said pressure-applying devices are preferably screw-threaded bolts engaged with internally-threaded sockets in the bridge.

In using the described appliance the assembled plates to be united are placed upon Inthe drawings, 12 represents a chambered l the studs 17, the clamp member 24 is placed heat has been applied, the combustible mixtureis shut o'll and the screws 25 are loosened, permitting the removal of the clamp member 24 and the laminated plate.

It is often desirable to vary the heat applied to different parts of the work. To enable this result to be conveniently secured, I subdivide the interior of the base 12 by partitions 26 (shown in dotted lines in Figs. l and 2) into a series of compartments, each of which has an independent gas-inlet 27. I The inlets 27 are connected to a suitable air-pump or blower, and each is provided with a controlling valve or cock 28. Each inlet is provided between its valve and the base 12 with a gas-inlet 29, having a valve 30.

It will be seen that the temperature at different parts of the work may be varied by shuttingl oil, decreasing, or increasing the .supply of gas and air at each compartment of 'the b ase.

I claim- 1 1A plating appliance comprising a chamber'edbase adapted to receive gas, and having a top provided with a plurality of burn- K the under surface of a laminated plate bearing on the said member, a iXed bridge located above the base, and pressure-applying devices engaged with the bridge, and adapted to bear on a movable plate or follower superimposed on said laminated plate.

2. A plating appliance comprising a chambered base subdivided into compartments, each having an independent valved air-supply pipe, said pipe being provided, between its valve and the corresponding compartment, with a valved gas-inlet, whereby a regulated mixture of gas and air may be admit-y ted to the said compartments, the said base having a top provided with burners and with means for holding a laminated plate over the burners.

3. A plating appliance comprising a chambered base adapted to receive gas, and having a top provided with a plurality of burners and with a plurality oit' slender, upwardlyprojecting studs, collectively forming a skeleton clamp member, which permits the impingement of the burner-jets on a plate bearing on the studs, and means for holding the said plate on the studs.

In testimony whereoi1 I have a'HiXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. SLADE. Witnesses:

FRANK MOARDLE, JOSEPH C. HUGHES. 

